"German command vehicles." Topic

I am currently putting together 43 eastern front and 44 west front divisions for Field of Battle. Just wondering what I should use for battalion and up commanders. Would it be different for a panzer regiment as opposed to a panzer grenadier regiment? I'm thinking about kubelwagons with officer figures and then some of the other command vehicles for the recon and panzer battalion. What have you or would you use? Given that the bases in this game are companies so a panzer battalion is three tanks and a command stand.

Well, looking through a couple of my sources, namely, "Viking Summer – 5 SS Panzer Division in Poland, 1944", it would appear the battalion and division leadership would also sport a similar vehicle as their panzer regiments had. The numbering on the leadership vehicle would be distinctly different like, "R01", "R02", or even "II01" or "II00" to indicate the leadership. Then the companies would have a numbering system to match their company; the 5th company would look like, 501, 502, and so forth.

Now all things being equal, numbers on vehicle changed a lot as to confuse the enemy on who was who in what vehicle.

Hope this helps.

P.

For higher level HQs, various types of radio vehicle are fun, be they radio trucks or the command variants of halftracks or tanks festooned in extra aerials. Kubelwagons are always a standby of course, but I can't help thinking that Colonels and above would have a grander ride.

From '43-44 German TOEs (Gliederungen)
PzGdr Battalion
Battalion Staff included: (vehicles)
6x Motorcyles + 1x Combo
9x Kfz 1
1x Kfz 2/40 – small maintenance vehicle
17x Medium Trucks
3x SdKfz 251/3 – Radio
1x SdKfz 251/8 – Ambulance
2x SdKfz 251/11 – Telephone line layer
Another reference states "Battalion Headquarters – contained the Battalion Commander, Adjutant, ordnance and medical officers, equipped with two halftracks plus various cars and motorcycles."

For Panzer Battalions the Battalion HQ Staff had Command Cars and Motorcycles but the Battalion HQ Company also had 6 of whatever tanks were in the Battalion (IVs /Vs)

Have to do more research for Recon Battalions

Check this out for info in Recon Battalions: link

I play BlitzKrieg Commander II in the North African desert. My battalion command vehicles are generally the same type of vehicle used in the companies of the battalion. But my regimental/brigade and higher command vehicles are a combination of scout cars, command cars, radio truck, and halftracks.

A good source for battalion/regiment command vehicles are the GHQ TO&E pages: link

Jim

For Regimental and up, I also like to sprinkle in some captured vehicles.

My Roco 1/87 Dodge Command Car in German markings usually goes to the highest commander on the table. Subordinates have to hide it from their betters. ^,^

…but when I do field such a command vehicle, I prefer to use my 1:48 scale conversion kit; Sdkfz 247 Ausf A – 6-rad.

See link: link

P.

Field Marshal-
You may find some useful info on the tables provided in this link to wwiidaybyday. It has some detailed TO&E info from the various KStN lists.

link

Also,
Fire & Fury's Battlefront WWII has a page of TO&E for misc. units on both the eastern & western fronts.

link

panzer dudes in command tanks,panzer grenadier dudes in half tracks if a half track borne battalion and cars if a lorry borne battalion.

I have pictures of mine somewhere will do some for you

Personally, I like to have an Inf Bn Command Post represented by a radio-equipped half track or small truck, even if this HQ remains out of sight and off the table.

But I think the Bn CO also needs a rover vehicle to enable him to visit the forward Companies, maybe to add his Command/Morale advantage. I'm inclined to keep this small and inconspicuous, something like a Jeep/Kubel/Carrier/Scout Car. I guess it needs a radio, otherwise a M/C and sidecar might even suffice.

I also give the Bde/Regt Commander something similar, just in case he decides to descend to earth and interfere. Note that my sweet spot is Bn-level actions, with Coys being manoeuvred and Section/Squad bases.

Heck, my company commanders are in SdKfZ251/3 radio tracks. I have a SdKfz263 8-rad for battalion or regiment.

I usually went with an artillery staff team (bunch of guys standing around a map table) for battalion command.